Alisson thinks Liverpool have a ‘big talent’ who has only started eight Premier League games

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Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has raved about defender Ibrahima Konate after his performance against Benfica this week.

Liverpool headed to Benfica in search of a positive result in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.

The Reds took a 2-0 first-half lead as Konate powered in a fine header before Sadio Mane added a second.

Darwin Nunez pulled one back but Liverpool restored their two-goal lead through Luis Diaz, securing a 3-1 first-leg win.

Liverpool have one foot in the semi-finals after Tuesday’s win, with Konate playing a key role in the game.

Konate’s opening goal was a finish that gave Odysseas Vlachodimos no chance, sending an unstoppable header into the net.

The Frenchman did have a mixed second half though, completely missing his clearance to allow Nunez to score.

Konate, 22, joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig last summer as the Reds secured a £36million deal for the former Sochaux talent.

With Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk cemented as Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice centre back pairing, Konate has been in and out of the side this season.

For instance, Konate has only started eight Premier League games this season with another nine across other competitions.

We will likely see much more of Konate in the coming years, who will surely be the long-term replacement for Matip in the Liverpool defence.

Alisson has certainly been impressed by Liverpool’s big 2021 signing, hailing him in light of the win over Benfica earlier this week.

Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, Alisson has suggested that Konate is a ‘big talent’ as well as a ‘top guy’ and ‘really nice person’.

Alisson added that Liverpool can even count on Konate for goals now having seen him bury that header against Benfica.

“It’s really important for us,” said Alisson. “He’s a young player, a big talent with a lot of qualities. He is a good defender, a top guy and a really nice person as well. I’m happy to have him on the team and we can count on him as well to score goals,” he added.